What If Nothing Changes But You Do - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 25, 2026
"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV).
This past week, I planned to visit my good friend, Tanner Olson, at the Scatter the Joy Project in Columbus, Ohio. When my husband came down with a bad cold, however, I started to panic. Not only do I have generalized anxiety, but I have horrible night driving anxiety, especially in a busy place like Columbus. From highways to traffic and wrecks, just seeing the six-lane highways stresses me out. Can you relate?
By the halfway point of the week, I was determined to find a solution. I knew I'd be too frightened to drive alone, but if I could find a friend who was okay with driving in the dark, I'd be set. So, that's what I set out to find: a friend who could drive us. What did I find instead? A new friend with night driving anxiety, just like me. God has a sense of humor, so let me explain.
Earlier in the week, a girl from my church reached out about hanging out. We had mutual friends, and we shared our lives over hot tea and coffee on Monday afternoon. By Friday, we were best friends, driving to Columbus, choosing to face our fears and let God handle the rest. Again, God is funny, right?
Making the drive to Columbus wasn't easy. We were both still anxious. But by the time we reached the event, my friend shared that when she was praying about whether to come with me, she felt the Lord say, "Change your perspective." Immediately, I felt a gut-punch. This friend wasn't just a new friend to me, but she was a new Christian, and here she was teaching me!
Sometimes, our circumstances change from good to bad overnight. The problems disappear, and we move on. But more often than not, God changes us in those circumstances. My friend and I still had to drive in the dark to this event. Yes, we drove the back way, and yes, we both still have anxiety. Yet together, and by changing our perspective, the Lord helped us get there safely and back again.
I don't know what battles or anxieties you're facing today, but I do know that sometimes, we all need a change in perspective. And I get it. When nothing changes, our heavy circumstances can frustrate us. We're disappointed, feel stuck, and even controlled by our greatest fears. But 2 Corinthians 4 reminds us that God doesn't ask us to ignore pain, rather to see it differently.
This week, please refresh your perspective. Not by pretending everything is good when it isn't, but by expanding your meaning beyond the pain. Notice God's nearness, not just the problem. Sense the shift and embrace it. Allow hope to breathe again. Then, ask God what He might be doing that you can't yet see.
Is it conquering a fear? Having a difficult conversation? Confessing a struggle? Whatever it is, try to reframe the situation. Name the truth and the battle, because two things can be true at once. Sometimes, we need a little help to change our perspective.
As C.S. Lewis, the great British writer and author of the Chronicles of Narnia, often quoted: "Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different?" And isn't that the truth? Will you allow God to change your heart over time, or stay stuck in the same patterns? Will you see with a new vision, or remain stuck in your circumstances because you refuse to see through them? Life is often about getting through what we're going through, not avoiding or getting around it.
Prayer
Dear God, where have I been stuck in a way of seeing things? What would it look like to invite you into my circumstances, not just the outcomes? As I honestly answer these questions, help me to see with your vision. Give me a new perspective, and the courage to embrace it. I ask for your hope and love to surround me today as I learn not to lose heart. I love you, Jesus. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ Justin Paget
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
